Grade line marker



July 3, 1962 A. s. REYNOLDS 3,041,754

GRADE LINE MARKER Filed Jan. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 A, 47 9b /7 30i 50 I 2/ 6 A i --22 1. 2

4-4 3 46 I 34 I Aaron 6. Reyna/0;

INVENTOR.

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July 3, 1962 A. G. REYNOLDS GRADE LINE MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 15, 1958 llmh.

Aaron 6". Reyna/0G l WW.

INV EN TOR.

ATTORA/EKS United States Patent Office 3,4l,754 Patented July 3,. 19623,041,754 GRADE LINE MARKER Aaron G. Reynolds, Rte. 1, Box 250, McAllen,Tex. Filed Jan. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 709,115 17 Claims. {CL 37-170) largenumber of grade stakes, mark the grade for finishing. Ordinarily, oneman sights through a leveling instrument to direct another in drivingthe stakes at spaced apart locations over the area to be leveled, or thestakes are grade-marked by one of various methods pursuant to elevationreadings taken at said locations. Both of these operations are tediousand time-consuming. Also, it is relatively easy for these stakes to beuprooted, or at least jarred out of position, duringthe finishingprocess so that they do not represent the true grade. Still further,these stakes, or the grade-indicating markings thereon, are visible tothe operator of earthmoving equipment for a relatively short distance.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for marking thegrade of a land area to be leveled without the use of grade stakes orthe like.

Another object is to provide apparatus for marking the grade of a landarea to be leveled with-means which are easier to establish, morepermanent and visible for greater distances than the conventional gradestakes or grade markings thereon.

These and other objects are accomplished, in accordance with the presentinvention, by means of a grade line-marker which comprises a framemovable over the ground level, means on the frame for selectivelyraising or lowering a row of the ground as the frame is moved thereover,and gauge means for determining the elevation of said row with respectto a point distant from the frame. Withsuch apparatus, it is possiblefor an instrument man to sight upon the gauge means and thus indicate toan operator of the grade line marker the extent to which the row is tobe raised or lowered. The operator may, in turn, selectively controlsuitable actuating mechanism for raising or lowering the row inaccordance with the instrument mans directions. Thus, it ispossible tomark the land area along lines defined by the raised or lowered rowswhich serve the same purposes as grade stakes, without the disadvantagesattendant thereto.

More particularly, the means for selectively raising o1 lowering a rowcomprises a gathering member and a digging member supported on theframe, and means for moving each of said members below the ground levelfor raising and lowering a row. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the digging member is disposed rearwardly of the gatheringmember, the moving means is adapted to raise the digging member abovethe ground level for leveling to grade the row raised by said gatheringmember, and the gauge means comprises a level rod movable with thegathering member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grade line marker ofsimplified construction and operation, and more particularly one inwhich the gathering and digging members are moved between row raisingand lowering positions by means of only a single actuator.

This latter object is accomplished by a grade line marker in which thegathering member and digging member are disposed on opposite ends of asupport mounted foipivoting about an axis transverse to the direction ofmovement of the-frame, and an actuator is provided for swinging thesupport about its pivotal mounting to move each of said members betweenpositions above and below the ground level. Preferably, the gatheringmember and digging member are carried by longitudinally spaced apartparallel arms pivotally connected to opposite ends of a pair ofvertically spaced apart parallel bars pivotally mounted on the frame toform a parallelogram support for maintaining the members in a fixedrelation with respect to the ground level during all movements and inall positions of the support.

A still further object is to provide a grade line marker of thecharacter above described in which the raised row is compact.

For the above purposes, the grade line marker of the present inventionincludes another member for smoothing and compressing the top of the rowraised by the gathering member prior to its being leveled by thegathering member. This other member comprises a blade or the likemounted on the frame for pivoting about a transverse axis, and a part onthe parallelogram support engageable with this other member uponmovement of the gathering member below the ground to maintain said othermember at a level above the digging member.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a grade linemarker constructed in accordance with the present invention and in theprocess of raising a row to grade;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the grade line marker of FIG. 1 in aneutral position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the grade line marker, but in the process oflowering a row;

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the grade line marker, as seen alongbroken line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the grade line marker, as seenalong broken line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

Refer-ring now in detail to the above-described drawings, the grade linemarker comprises a frame .10 which includes a body 11 supported from arectangular base 12 by means of lateral braces 13 or the like. The baseis supported above ground by means of downwardly and outwardly extendinglegs 14 and 15 connected to the forward and rearward corners thereof,respectively. The front legs 14 are, in turn, supported from legs 17connected to the body 11, and an auxiliary leg 18 forms a brace betweeneach of the rear legs and the base. A runner 16 is connected to thelower end of each of the legs 17 and 14 to support the body of the frameat a fixed elevation above the ground level G as the frame is movedthereover.

A yoke 19 is pivotally connected to the forward end of the body 11 forattachment to a tractor 26, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, or othervehicular means for towing the frame forwardly from right to left. Tofacilitate such movement, the forward or leftmost end of each of therunners 16 is turned upwardly, as shown at 21. Alternatively, means maybe provided on the frame itself for moving it over the ground.

A support 24 for a gathering member 22 and a digging member 23 includesa pair of parallel bars 25 mounted by pins 26 on opposite sides of thebody 11 for pivoting about vertically spaced apart transverse axes.Parallel arms27a are pivotally connected to the forward ends of the bars25 by pins 28a and 29a, and an arm 27b parallel to arms 27a is pivotallyconnected to the rearward ends of the bars 25 by pins 28b and 29b. Thegathering and digging members are secured to the lower ends of the arms27a and 2717, respectively, so that they are moved between positionsabove and below the ground level G as the bars 25 are swung about thepivot pins 26. More particularly, the parallelogram support abovedescribed maintains the arms upright during such swinging so that thegathering and digging members are maintained in a fixed relation to theground level in all their positions.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the gathering member comprises a pair of plates30 which are rearwardly convergent and spaced apart at their rearwardends to provide a gradually decreasing passage therebetween. The loweredges 31 of the plates are turned inwardly to facilitate cutting of thesoil as the plates are lowered and moved forwardly beneath the groundlevel, as shown in FIG. 1. The soil so cut is then compressed by theconvergent plates so that an unfinished row thereof flows through thepassage therebetween and is raised above the ground level. The lowerends of the arms 27a are bent for securement to the outside of theplates 30 by means of bolts 32.

It will be understood that while other gathering means may be providedfor raising a row of the ground over which the frame is moved, thegathering member 22 constitutes a simplified and effective device forthis purose. p The digging member 23 comprises a pair of plates 33 whichintersect at their forward edges and are rearwardly divergent. The loweredges 34 of these plates are turned outwardly to facilitate plowing ofthe soil as such plates are lowered and moved forwardly beneath theground level to lower a row to the grade L in FIG. 3. The lower end ofthe arm 27b is secured to the inner sides of the plates 33 by means ofbolts 35 and straps 36.

It will be understood that other digging devices may be used for raisinga row of the ground over which the frame is used. However, as in thecase of gathering member 22, the digging member 23 is preferred due toits simplicity of construction.

More particularly, it will be noted that the arm 27b supports thedigging member 23 rearwardly of the gathering member 22 so that itscutting edges 34 will level the top of the row raised by the gatheringmember to a grade R, as shown in FIG. 1. It will also be noted that, inthe neutral position of FIG. 2, the lower cutting edges of each of thegathering member and digging member are disposed substantially flushwith the ground level G so that the grade line marker may be moved overthe ground without in any way altering the grade. This arrangement alsoenables the rows to be raised or lowered to a maximum range ofelevations.

An actuator 37 for swinging the support between positions to move eachof the gathering member and digging member above and below the groundlevel G comprises a cylinder 38 pivotally connected to the body 11 and apiston rod 39 pivotally connected to the leftmost pin 28a and having apiston thereon (not shown) sealably slidable within the cylinder. Ports40 and 41 are provided in the cylinder to admit and exhaust hydraulicfluid to opposite sides of the piston in order to retract or extend thepiston rod 3:9 in a well known manner. Thus, upon the introduction ofhydraulic fluid into the port 41 and exhaustion of such fluid from theport 40, the piston rod is retracted to swing the support in acounterclockwise direction, thereby lowering the gathering member andraising the digging member. On the other hand, the introduction ofhydraulic fluid into the port 40 and exhaustion thereof from the port 41will extend the rod to lower the digging member and raise the gatheringmember. Obviously, such hydraulic control enables an operator to raiseand lower the gathering and digging members to desired elevations aswell as to maintain them in any desired position.

A level rod 42 having suitable graduations thereon is secured by bolts43 or the like to the rear side of the rearward arm 27!). A target 44 isvertically adjustable along the rod 42 and may be brought into line ofsight 45 by suitable operation of the actuator 37. Thus, as previouslymentioned and as will be explained more fully hereinafter, an instrumentman may direct the operator of the grade line marker in raising orlowering a row of ground level G to a desired elevation by bringing thetarget into the line of sight.

A curved blade 46 is secured to the 'lower end of a parallelogram typesupport 47 on the body 11 to dispose its lower edge 48 just rearwardlyof the passage through gathering member 22 and forwardly of diggingmember 23. A stop part 49 is located on the support 47 in a position toprevent the lower edge 48 from dropping beneath a predeterminedelevation with respect to the ground level G. An arm 50 of theparallelogram support 47 extends rearwardly thereof for engagement withanother arm 51 secured to and extending forwardly of the rearwardsupport arm 27!). These two arms 50 and 51 are so arranged as to preventthe lower edge of the smoothing blade 46 from dropping below a pointjust above the lower cutting edge 34 of the digging member when thegathering member is lowered beneath the ground level for raising a row.

As will be understood from FIGS. 1 to 3, this blade will compress andsmooth 01f the top of the unfinished row of ground which has been raisedby such gathering member prior to the leveling of such row to grade bythe cutting edge of the digging member. Obviously, this same functionmay be performed by rollers or other equivalent means.

To illustrate the use of the above-described grade line marker, it willbe assumed that the marker is disposed on an area of land which is to bemarked for grading and that a leveling instrument has been set up at apoint distant from the marker. In accordance with methods Well known inthe art, the man operating the instrument may calculate the elevation ofits line of sight. Inasmuch as the vertical distance between the cuttingedge 34 of the digging member 23 and any point on the level rod 42 isknown, the instrument man may indicate to the operator of the marker thepoint at which the target 44 is to be fixed on the level rod 42 in orderto raise or lower a row to grade. Thus, for example, if the line ofsight is at an elevation of 50.0 feet and the desired grade is 45.0feet, the target will be set at a point on the level rod which is 5.0feet above the cutting edge 34. 1

This setting of the target may raise it or lower it above or below theline of sight, respectively, depending on the elevation of the groundlevel upon which the marker is disposed. At any rate, the instrument mandirects the operator of the marker in bringing the target into the lineof sight so that, at the outset of the marking operation, either of thegathering or digging members may be below the ground level.

By way of example, let it be assumed that the elevation of the groundlevel G is greater than 45.0 feet. In this case, when the target isbrought into the line of srgnt, the digging member 23 is lowered beneaththe ground level, as shown in' FIG. 3, so as to lower a row of theground over which the frame is moved. However, in so moving, the framemay traverse ground which lowers gradually and, more particularly, whichfalls beneath an elevation of 45.0 feet. In this case, the instrumentman, upon seeing that the target dips beneath the line of sight, willdirect the operator of the grade line marker to raise the target andthus the lower edge 34 of the digging memher. In practice, theinstrument man will be in continuous communication with the operator ofthe marker so that the digging member is raised and loweredsubstantially simultaneously with changes in the elevation of the groundlevel.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. A grade linemarker, comprising a frame movable over the ground level, a gatheringmember and a digging member supported on the frame, force-transmittingmeans on the frame for moving each of said members below the groundlevel so as to selectively raise and lower a row of the ground as theframe is moved thereover, and gauge means for enabling a person todetermine the elevation of said row from a point distant from the frame.

2. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a support pivotally mounted on the frame for swinging about anaxis transverse to the direction of movement of the frame, a gatheringmember on the support to one side of its pivotal mounting and a diggingmember on the support to the opposite side of its pivotal mounting anddisposed rearwardly of said gathering member for leveling the top of therow raised by the gathering member, means for swinging the support aboutits pivotal mounting for moving each of said members between positionsabove and below the ground level so as to selectively raise or lower arow of the ground as the frame is moved thereover, and gauge means forenabling a person to determine the elevation of said row from a pointdistant from the frame.

3. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 2, wherein saidgauge means comprises a level rod on the support.

4. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 2, includinganother member supported on the frame for wardly of the digging memberfor smoothing and compressing the top of the row raised by the gatheringmemher.

5. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 4, includingmeans on the support to maintain said smoothing and compressing memberat a level above the digging member when the gathering member is movedbelow the ground.

6. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a pair of parallel bars mounted on the frame for pivoting aboutvertically spaced apart axes extending transversely to the direction ofmovement of the frame, parallel arms pivotally connected to oppositeends of the bar to form a parallelogram therewith, a gathering member onone arm, a digging member on the other arm and disposed rearwardly ofsaid gathering member for leveling the top of the row raised by thegathering member, means for swinging the bars about said axes for movingeach of said members between positions above andbelow the ground levelso as to selectively raise or lower a row of the ground as the frame ismoved thereover, and gauge means for enabling a person to determine theelevation of said row from a point distant from the frame.

7. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 6, wherein saidgauge means comprises a level rod on the arm supporting the diggingmember.

8. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 6, includinganother member for smoothing and com pressing the top of the row ofground raised by the gathering member prior to its being leveled by thedigging member, means mounting the other member on the frame forpivoting about a transverse axis, and a part on the parallelogramengageable with the other member upon movement of the gathering memberbelow the ground to maintain said other member at a level above thedigging member.

t3 9. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a support mounted on the frame, a gathering member and a diggingmember on the support, means for moving the support to move each of saidmembers in opposite directions between positions above and below groundlevel so as to selectively raise orlower a row of the ground as theframe is moved thereover, and gauge means for enabling a person todetermine the elevation of said row from a point distant from the frame.

10. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 9, whereinsaid digging member is disposed rear- Wardly of said gathering memberfor leveling the top of the row raised by the gathering member.

11. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 9, whereinsaid support is pivotally mounted on the frame, and said gathering anddigging members are mounted on opposite sides of the pivotal mounting ofthe support.

12. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 9, includinganother member having a lower edge for smoothing and compressing the topof the row raised by the gathering member, and means for raising thelower edge of said other member above the level of the row to be raisedin response to movement of said gathering member below ground level.

13. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a gathering member and a digging member supported on the framewith the digging member disposed rearwardly of the gathering member,means for moving each of said members below the ground level so as toselectively raise or lower a row of the ground as the frame is movedthereover and for moving the digging member above ground level forleveling the top of the row raised by the gathering member, gauge meansfor enabling a person to determine the elevation of said row from apoint distant from the frame, another member having a lower edgeforwardly of the digging member for smoothing and compressing the top ofthe row of the ground raised by the gathering member, and means forraising the lower edge of said other member above the lower edge of thedigging member upon moving the gathering member below ground level.

14. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a gathering member and a digging member supported on the frame,means for moving each of said members below the ground level so as toselectively raise or lower a row of ground as the frame is movedthereover, another member having a lower edge for smoothing andcompressing the top of the row raised by the gathering member, means forraising the lower edge of said other member above the level of the rowto be raised in response to movement of said gathering member belowground level, and gauge means for enabling a person to determine theelevation of said row from a point distant from the frame.

15. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a gathering member and a digging member supported on the framewith the digging member disposed rearwardly of the gathering member,means for moving each of said members below ground level so as toselectively raise and lower a row of the ground as the frame is movedthereover and raising the digging member above the ground level forleveling the top of the row raised by the gathering member, and gaugemeans for enabling a person to determine the elevation of said row froma point distant from the frame.

16. A grade line marker of the character defined in claim 15, whereinsaid gauge means comprises a level rod movable with the digging memberand having a target adjustably mounted thereon. a

17. A grade line marker, comprising a frame movable over the groundlevel, a gathering member and a digging member supported on the frame,force-transmitting means on the frame for moving the gathering anddigging members vertically with respect to the ground level so as toselectively raise or lower a row of the ground as the frame is movedthereo ver, another member yieldably supported on the frame and having alower edge positioned to smooth and compress the top of the row raisedby the gathering member, means responsive to movement of the diggingmember for raising the lower edge of said other member to atsubstantially the same level as the lower edge of said digging member,and gauge means enabling a person to determine the elevation of said rowat a point distant from the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

